Visit St. Pete-Clearwater staff have recommended that Pinellas County Commissioners allocate $2.7 million to 49 events that support tourism in fiscal year 2026. Tourism officials administer the awards through the Elite Event and Destination Enhancement Funding Program. Top-tier events include the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Valspar Championship, which, if approved by commissioners, will each receive $250,000. Events in the fifth and final category, such as the SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival, receive between $ 15,000 and $25,000.
A federal district court issued an order Friday afternoon that prohibits the U.S. Department of Labor from closing Job Corps Centers. The presidential administration initially planned to begin a phased operational pause at facilities nationwide and "initiate an orderly transition for students, staff and local communities" by June 30. Mayor Ken Welch and city council members have discussed purchasing the Pinellas County Job Corps Center in St. Petersburg to prevent students from becoming homeless, while also maintaining a valuable workforce development program.
The National Weather Service (NWS) announced that Tampa reached 100 degrees at 3:30 p.m. Sunday for the first time in recorded history. NWS Tampa Bay has collected temperature records since 1890. The previous record of 99 degrees was set June 16, 2020, and the NWS has issued another heat advisory for Monday.
The owner of Mangosteen and Glass Noodle has opened a new restaurant at 1601 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg's Grand Central District. Plate Sushi Grill and Lounge offers a tapas bar and omakase - a Japanese chef-curated multi-course meal that allows guests to sample multiple items. Plate Sushi's owner, Sean Thongsiri, also recently opened The Crane restaurant in downtown St. Pete.
Popular pizza and Philly cheesesteak shop Violet Stone will open its much-anticipated dine-in restaurant Wednesday, July 30, at 2609 Dr. MLK Jr St. N. Its owners recently closed the previous, significantly smaller location at 2134 9th Ave. N. What began as a food truck in 2022 has since attracted a cult following and a viral review from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
WalletHub recently compared 300 cities of varying sizes across 22 indicators of market attractiveness, affordability and quality of life to determine the "best & worst cities for first-time homebuyers." St. Petersburg ranked 21st among mid-size cities. Tampa placed first among large cities and Clearwater ranked eighth in the least populated group.
The City of St. Petersburg is reminding residents that they have until Thursday, July 31, to apply for storm-related permits and inspections without incurring associated fees. Officials extended the June 30 deadline and have issued over 11,200 fee-free permits since Hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted the area. Homeowners who need to apply for permits can visit the office in the Municipal Services Center at One 4th St. N. between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, visit the website here.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday approved a $15 million grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for environmental remediation of the former Toytown Class I landfill. Further discussions about the remediation will happen at a later date, County Administrator Barry Burton said. The grant will help Pinellas County prepare the site for the future development of a youth sports facility.
Popular chicken tender chain Raising Cane's has announced that it will open its first St. Petersburg location Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 2700 Tyrone Blvd. N. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new outparcel building at Tyrone Square Mall will begin at 9:30 a.m. and features a live DJ. Attendees can receive Raising Cane's merchandise and sample chicken tenders.
Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital's emergency department is the only facility in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties to earn a prestigious award presented to less than 2% of hospitals nationwide. Bayfront has received the 2025 Emergency Nurses Association's Lantern Award, which recognizes leadership, practice, education and advocacy that improve patient care and staff morale. "Our team has moved mountains to ensure that patient care takes top priority in their daily work, and we want our community to know that they have access to quality healthcare right here in St. Petersburg," said Lorraine Parker, chief nursing officer.
Raymond James Financial is celebrating reaching a rare milestone: 150 consecutive quarters of profitability, a streak that spans nearly 38 years. What began in 1952 with a small office in downtown St. Petersburg has grown into a global financial services behemoth with roughly 17,000 employees and 8,900 affiliated advisors across two continents. Raymond James has navigated the Black Monday stock market crash, the dot-com bubble, a global recession and the COVID-19 pandemic to increase its annual net income from $9.6 million to over $2 billion since the streak began in 1987.
The Oregon Air National Guard recently selected Krew Social, a Tampa-based tech platform that fosters community connections, to enhance the visitor experience at its Wings and Eagles Airshow. The veteran-owned local startup created an interactive map interface to help attendees navigate an expansive outdoor venue, provided real-time feedback tools to improve future events and offered pathways for guests interested in learning more about career opportunities in the Air National Guard. Mike Chahinian, founder and CEO, called it an "incredible honor" to participate in the July 19-20 event.
